Champions Trophy: Dulwich join Kingswood, Blundell’s, and St John’s in reaching the semi finals

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The Champions Trophy edged a step nearer to completion this week with three of the four quarter finals taking place.

 

All that remains is for that spectacular looking fixture between Bromsgrove and Dulwich College, winners of five of the last six Schools Cup titles between them, to take place on Tuesday next week and the four semi finalists will be known.

 

Wednesday saw two of the four quarter finals taking place, with Kingswood hosting Eton College and Stowe welcoming Blundell’s, both fixtures looked exciting, all four sides had made a strong impression en route to this stage. Thursday then saw St John’s Leatherhead make the long trip up to Yorkshire to face Grammar School at Leeds.

 

Kingswood 20-13 Eton College

 

Kingswood had a good first round win over Marlborough College, but it was their second round win over the 2015 winners and 2016 finalists, Bedford, that really saw them grab the headlines as they held off a fightback to win 29-17. They secured another highly impressive result on Wednesday as they beat Eton Colelge, who knocked out Bryanston in the last round, 20-13.

 

The Bath men can now dare to dream, they are into the semi finals and are playing some truly spectacular rugby this season. They are just one with away from Allianz Park now after this superb win and must, surely, fancy their chances.

 

Stowe 3-16 Blundell’s

 

Like Kingswood, the key result for Blundell’s was their second round win. They finally overcame their nemesis, Epsom College, who had knocked them out of the last two round. They did so in style, a 31-7 win that suddenly had them being talked about as favourites. Beating Stowe will have done nothing to dissuade those of that view that they still are, keeping the side that had knocked out the former champions, Millfield, without a try to their name.

 

Blundell’s are playing with serious confidence, exemplified by that spectacular forty point win over Clifton last weekend. Nobody will want to see their name come out of the hat against the Devon men in the semi finals.

 

Grammar School at Leeds 17-24 St John’s Leatherhead

 

A fast start was key for St John’s in this one as they raced to a 17-0 lead and then had to work hard to stem a fightback from the side that had knocked out Wellington College in the last round.

 

In a funny way, St John’s progress has not received the credit it has deserved, they put sixty past King’s Canterbury in the opening round, knocked out the Champions, Tonbridge, in the last round, and have now made probably the toughest away trip in the competition and come away with a semi final spot. They will surely get their credit now though, this is a very good team, capable of making their way to Allianz Park on the 6th December.

 

Bromsgrove 19-37 Dulwich College 

 

This was probably the most hotly anticipated of all of the quarter finals, pitting the triple Schools Cup champions of 2012, 2013, and 2014, Dulwich College, against the side that dethroned them in 2015 and went on to win a second in 2016, Bromsgrove.

 

In the end Dulwich won it in relative comfort, a 19-7 half time lead quickly became a 26-7 lead. However two yellow cards allowed Bromsgrove back into the game, Bromsgrove capitalising on both periods by scoring tries to narrow the score back to 26-19. For a while the comeback might have been on, however once they were back to their full compliment Dulwich secured a couple more tries to make it six for the afternoon for them, and a 37-19 win.

 

Semi Finals

 

The semi finals draw took place back on Friday, pitting St John’s Leatherhead at home against Dulwich College. It has the feel of a really exciting game, Dulwich have the chance to become the first side ever to have won both the U18 Schools Cup and the Champions Trophy, but this is a pretty historic fixture for St John’s too.

 

The other semi final meanwhile sees a first home game of the entire competition for Blundell’s as they host the nearest team to them in the competition, Kingswood, for what promises to be a hugely exciting clash.

 

Champions Trophy Semi Finals:

St John’s Leatherhead v Dulwich College

Blundell’s v Kingswood

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Champions Trophy Quarter Final Results:

 

Kingswood 20-13 Eton College

Bromsgrove 19-37 Dulwich College

Stowe 3-16 Blundell’s

Grammar School at Leeds 17-24 St John’s Leatherhead

 

Round Dates:

 

Semi Finals – w/c 20th November

Final – Wednesday 6th December

 

Champions Trophy Round 2 Results:

 

Bedford 17-29 Kingswood

Berkhamsted 17-33 Dulwich College

Bryanston 10-15 Eton College

Epsom College 7-31 Blundell’s

Grammar School at Leeds 17-11 Wellington College

RGS Guildford 22-37 Bromsgrove

St John’s Leatherhead 39-25 Tonbridge

Stowe 19-12 Millfield

 

Champions Trophy Round 1 Results:

 

Bromsgrove 34-5 Monmouth

Bryanston 47-37 Bristol Grammar

Dulwich College 43-12 St Paul’s

Grammar School at Leeds 38-24 Oakham

Marlborough College 3-22 Kingswood

Radley College 17-32 Berkhamsted

RGS Guildford 38-0 Caterham

Sherborne 7-18 Blundell’s

St John’s, Leatherhead 61-14 King’s Canterbury

Stowe 47-17 St Albans

 

Byes – Bedford, Epsom College, Eton College, Millfield, Tonbridge, Wellington College

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